NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

An Evaluation of Mood Disturbances and Somatic Discomfort under Slow Computer-Response Time and Incentive-Pay Conditions.

Authors

Schleifer-LM

Source

Work with Display Units 86, Selected Papers from the International Scientific Conference on Work with Display Units, Stockholm, Sweden, May 12-15, 1986 1987:793-802

Link

NIOSHTIC No.

00178172

Abstract

The effects of slow computer response time and incentive pay on mood disturbances and somatic discomfort in computer related work were examined. The subjects were 45 female typists from a clerical and secretarial agency. Subjects were in good general health, had corrected visual acuity of 20:20, took no medication except aspirin, were not pregnant, and typed at a speed of least 45 words per minute. The experimental data entry task consisted of entering records from paper copy into a computerized data base for a base wage of 5 dollars and 30 cents per hour over four workdays. The four conditions tested were rapid and slow computer response times each with and without incentive pay. Incentive pay awarded 10 cents for each keystroke per minute above the subject's prestudy baseline, but deducted 5 cents for each error per minute above baseline. Mood disturbance and somatic discomfort were scaled by self evaluation. Slow computer response time generated higher ratings of mood disturbances (frustration, impatience and irritation) than did rapid response time, and ratings of rush and tension were higher under wage incentive conditions. The author concludes that further research is needed on deleterious psychophysiological stress reactions associated with computer based incentive pay systems.